December 17, 2012

Hey Guys,

I felt like we had success this week even though our numbers don´t show much improvement. We doubled the number of lessons we taught with member this week which really wasn't that impressive of a number but it was hard.  We lacked in church again.  I guess we need to work more on our commitments, we also didn't find many people. But I am happy, I am enjoying my time as a district leader and am starting to get the hang of it. I hope I am being a bless to my district. One thing I have noticed more then anything is that Missionaries at least senior comps know how to work or how it should be done. Si sometimes you have to teach them something knew. But most of the time my calls and DM are used more to motivate the members of my district. It is like General Conference. They really don´t say anything new but you leave feeling refreshed and more excited to do what is right. I just have to work on doing that. As well as keep myself motivated which sometimes is harder then my District. I need to be the example in all aspects of the work. One thing I wish there was more training on was Baptism Interviews. I had my first two this passed week. One was super awesome really prepared said he was going on a mission. Luckily he was my first. I thought a lot about how it was going to go, what I was going to ask etc... when it came to it I forgot everything about what I thought would make the interview good and ended up being really short. It was probably not that great an interview but he is a super stud as Elder Navarro would say so, it was good. 

          The second interview was horrible. It was someone from another district which probably was why it was harder. I was covering for the ZLs meaning I was interviewing another DL's investigator. Elder Navarro trusts me a lot which means I do a lot of stuff to help him out. Which is alright I enjoy it. But anyway I was just kind of pushed into a room with a Baptismal Candidate from Elder ?.... District and was not informed anything of her situation. Turns out it was her third interview. The other 2 she failed something I should of know. She had a smoking problem (which I felt like she had repented of) and was living in the same house as a man but they weren´t together just friends but they had been together before. At that point I politely stopped the interview and went to talk to this Elder. He goes home in a month and half and was an Ex-zoneleader. He said it was no big deal and that she had only fail the other interviews for smoking. So I went and finished. Like an hour later I still wasn´t feeling good about it so I called the ZLs and told them about it they said they didn´t really know so I had to call the Assistants. They said they didn´t think it was a good idea. They called President and after a while he said no.  It wasn´t handled very well and I hope she can still prepare to be baptized. I feel really stupid the assistants said don´t worry about it wasn´t my fault. 

Anyway that's about it I am trying to work hard. Thanks for everything!!! 

Love Elder Wray

December 10, 2012

Hey Guys,

I was feeling good about last week till yesterday. I woke Sunday morning thinking that we were going to have 6 people in church, but when it came down to it no one came. I don´t know what happened, our ward had low assistance as well like 20 instead of 60-70. We worked hard this week and was a little discouraging to have no one in church. It is hard not to get discouraged after so long with such low numbers, but I am trying to stay excited. I did divisions this week with Elder Geschwandtner and Castor. It went well but I had to teach Elder Gesh how to use the Area Book. He had never touched one before a little sad seeing as he is training and has almost a year in the mission, but he is using it now. I also found all the directions of the lista de 24 meses for him because he didn't know where to look. But now he knows and he is using it. 

On Wednesday I witnessed my first wedding in Uruguay. It was kid of lame, I hope the reception was better. It consists of the witnesses signing papers, the couple then a judge comes in and says some words then a short kiss. Then they throw you out of the building and throw another couple in the room. We did get to throw rice though, which was kind of fun. Then to eat they went to McDonald's, we went to Burger King. Kind of Funny! We have found more people to teach this week, but they are pretty duro (hard).  This week we also had a ward activity it was super fun. The four of us missionaries sang Jingle Bells in English it was pretty funny! We put on these really big foam ties as the three Latino missionaries and I sang.

A phrase I am starting to hate is "Well I'm not the senior comp where are we going". My comp is starting to get on my nerves a little bit, he as a little bit of all of my past comps in one. Anyway I have to go. Sorry this letter is so short I need to pulled Elder Navarro aside to talk to him he looked like he was about to cry. We will see what happens to him.  Love you! Cant wait to talk in a bit. 

Love 
Elder Wray
P.s. I think Elizabeth should stay away from cars. It is like every week she is in an accident.

December 4, 2012

Hey Guys, 

This week has been pretty good. It really doesn´t show in our numbers in that regard I guess it was a hard week. But our area is looking much better, we have more people to teach and someone with fecha(date) for this month. Now we are trying to figure out how to get the members involved. It has been a struggle to get members to lessons this week as well as the last 5 or 6 weeks but we have more to work with this week. My area only has about 7 active member families in it and most work 2 jobs so it is hard to schedule lessons. My district is doing well I think, this past week I did divisions with the Zone Leaders, Elder McCraney is really helping me out. Elder Navarro not as much but I think he is really stressing out about the Zone now that he is ZL1. This week I have divisions with Elder Geschwandtner, he and his kid are doing really good. They are having a lot of lessons. We are teaching another friend of Eliana and her family from my last area. His name is Johnathan Denis. He is a pretty good guy, he is 13 but has been going to church by himself since his family let him leave home on his own. And now he is going to ours! We have taught him two lessons. I want to meet his parents but he says they are duro(hard). Anyway things as a District Leader are fun! At times stressful and you don´t have much free time but it makes things go by much faster. I only wish my district had more people in it. Elder Muñoz is doing well. He isn´t as obedient as I thought he would be. I think his last two comps might have killed him. I know if I didn´t push him he wouldn´t get up on time or he wouldn´t study etc.. So that makes it kind of annoying but I guess that is what happens when you are a Junior. A lot of times I feel like he could do more, but then I stop and think how much did I help my comps. I still feel like I did more but that stops me from getting to annoyed with him. A lot of times he plays with me like Elder Rivas did. I can never tell when he is telling the truth. Like on Tuesday I got out of the shower and he said, ´I just got off the phone with President, he says he is going to your District Meeting so it better be good." I obviously starting stressing out a little and then he started playing around. Saying he was just kidding then he wasn´t then he was. In the end, yes President did go to my DM thankfully it went really well. The beginning was slow but it picked up as people started talking more. I shared Obediencía con Exactitud, Regocijad en la obra(exact obedience, rejoice in the work). President said it went well, didn´t give me much critique which I wanted but oh well. This week is Zone Meeting which will be nice. I just lack confidence and energy in my meeting I think. That's about it things are going well. Talk to you guys soon in like 3 weeks, crazy how time flies. Also dad not a huge fan of the shirt it makes you look like a biker but maybe it was just the pic.  I can´t wait to read your stories. I hope you sent me a Christmas card.  Anyway got to go. 

Love  
Elder Wray  

November 26, 2012

Hey Guys,

This week has been a long and interesting week. I wasn´t able to find a Corto Plazo so I was with Elder Navarro for all of los cambios(changes).  I didn´t get much sleep but he really needed the help, he was really stressed out. Thankfully things went smoothly. This week I woke up at 4:45am Monday, 5:30 Tuesday and went to bed at 3 in the morning mas o menos(more or less) then was up again at 4:45. Most of the time was spent in 3 cruces(crossings) the terminal of Buses. It was really a lot of fun, different from the normal routine of being a missionary but as you can imagine super tiring.  And as a result I have a bit of a cold. My new companion Elder Muñoz is a super great missionary! From Puebla Mexico but he is a little down right now do to some things that have happened in the last two changes. We spent a good amount of time in Paso(step) 13 during weekly planning, and we have set a lot of goals for the week as well as the change. I am excited for this change a little stressed about being a District Leader because my district is doing so well when my own area is not but Elder Muñoz has talked to me about it and it will be a good learning experience and opportunity to serve. My first district meeting was not as good as I had hoped. In my district I have the Zone Leaders Elder Navarro and McCraney, and Elder Geshwander? and his new kid Elder Castor also from Coahuila Mexico. My first meeting Elder Geshwander wasn´t there because he was picking up his kid. So it was just me and my comp and the ZLs. I was kind of stressed because I didn´t know what to teach seeing as the zone leaders teach us things to talk about and plus Elder Navarro has already been my comp for 2 changes. I talked about Finding with Faith. It went all right I guess, Elder Navarro said he learned things he is going to start doing but I still hope tomorrow goes better (direction from the zone leader, they want us to use Finding with Faith and Obedience, I guess I wasn't that far off the first time). But we will see what happens I also want to talk about desire which I guess ties in nicely. 

This Sunday was good. There was a lot crammed into sacrament so my talk I kind of threw half out the window but it went well.  I spoke about sacrifice and especially toward anyone with a calling, and the joy you receive. It was a be proud moment as I spoke right after Romina a convert of Elder Rivas and I. She did pretty well for being a 12 year old and only a member for a month. I felt like they gave her a weird topic ¨Tithing¨ but her dad a non member came. 

Senior comp is a little more stressful but really not that bad. It just means I take lead role in most times. Like we walked into a reactivating members house and there was a man there I didn't know. It is at times like these when I would watch and listen as Elder Navarro would bring the conversation to the Gospel. But I knew he wasn´t there it was my first day and all that was going through my head was well I want to share the gospel with him and I know my comp is waiting for me. And it came I was praying a lot and he began to open up until He said that a few months ago he had gone to another church. Then he asked "why are there so many Church's"? the perfect set up for lesson one. It was a good first lesson but sadly he doesn´t live in our mission but we sent the reference on. This week was the first time I have really knocked doors in Deo, man it is so much different from the inland. The people really are a lot more cold. But it is good.  I am really happy with my comp it should be a great change! And don´t worry about the "Rocks" they aren´t that big of a deal. 

Love you all!

Elder Wray

November 20, 2012

Hey Guys,

This week went flying by, but we saw a little success. We are finally starting to find people that can get baptized before February, they are going to take some work but it can be done. It was Elder Myers last week, which was really trunky and as I am writing you I know he is just landing any minute now and will soon hug his family. We had an interesting week with 2 divisions in a row so Elder Myers didn´t work with me for 2 day in my area. Once with Elder Salgado and another with Elder Navarro. They were really good and brought peace to the stress and disappointment I was feeling. This end of the change was weird as well because Elder Myers went home yesterday and I don't get my new comp till tomorrow so I tried to find a Corto Plazo(Usually a Young Man form the ward to work with me for a few days) but there wasn't one available in my ward so I have been Zone Leader 2 with Elder Navarro for 2 days and tonight which has been lots of work. Not that I did a lot of what a ZL does but Lots of the stressful organizational parts I did like house checks, numbers changes etc. and tonight I will probably not sleep much because we have to stay in the bus terminal all night to help missionaries get on and off buses as they all change around, should be interesting. Anyway so my 8th comp or 9th if you count Navarro as two is Elder Muñoz. He was with of Elder Larson One of the coolest guys from my group.  I´m really excited to be with Elder Muñoz, he is a really good Elder. From what I have seen he is a super obedient Elder so I hope he can help me in my short comings and help the other companionship in our house. He is in his sixth Change so about 8 months in the mission. He has been in Cerro for 2 changes so I know him well, he is just changing areas. He is like 5' 5" I think.  I hope they don´t kill us and he's from Mexico, Pueblo I think but I will tell you better next week. Super Good guy.

Also more news about my change is I am a District Leader!! Super fun I cant wait! Things with Elder Myers just started clicking.  My teaching was getting a lot better and I could feel the spirit guiding me a lot more as I taught. I am a little nervous about the responsibility I have to feel but I know it should be alright. As DL I have to teach my district every week, do divisions as a teaching tool, numbers etc... Lots of things but I can't wait, the mission is flying by. 

Things that happened this week as well on divisions with Elder Salgado, they hit me with a rock again this time much harder but luckily my backpack again. When Elder Salgado heard it and I told him what it was he got really scared and asked if we should run I just laughed and said if you want. We didn´t. Then also they Spray Painted the Church all over with the word Nacional which is a big futbol team here one of the two biggest. If you ask anyone here what team they are they will either say Nacional of Peñarol. Anyway the missionaries spent time cleaning that this week. Then during a baptism on Saturday while talking to people with my back to kids playing soccer they hit me in the back with a rock again but this time I didn´t have a backpack. Thankfully it didn´t hurt. Also this weekend I have a talk in sacrament. Sacrifice is my topic should be a piece cake.  Anyway I have to go I hope this letter isn´t to choppy it is really late and we have to go teach the people. The mission is super great! I can't wait to get to work with my new comp. Pray for me. 

Love 
Elder Wray

P.S. Sorry I will send the Pick on Monday

November 12, 2012

Hey Guys,

This week has been about the same as the past few weeks. But I feel better, tired but we have found a couple more people. This Sunday a family that we have been working with came back to church, it was the first time back in 7 years. The ward was pretty happy. The ward seem pretty happy with the missionaries right now. I have really grown to love the Bishop here, he is really trying to help his ward as well as our investigators. Reading the Book of Mormon has really been great! I really love that book! I am finishing Alma in the next two days. 

I don´t know how this week is going to go. It is Elder Myers last week, he's super trunky. His group leaves early to make Thanksgiving. Which mean he leaves Monday Morning on the plane. So I will probably have to do divisions with someone for a few days I hope it is Elder Navarro since his comp also dies. I don´t know what is going to happen there have been a lot of rumors going around so I am just going to wait it out and not worry about it. Good news one of my converts and a convert from Elder Navarro went to the Temple this past Saturday.  I was super happy, Super Super Happy! Sadly that is about all the news I have. That's the problem about working a hard area not much to tell. They broke the windows in the church again this week.  Then threw in some fire crackers it looks like. They really should buy cameras.  Sorry, this is all I have this week. Anyway I have to do some paper work for our area it is kind of a new thing. Sorry again! I feel really bad about this letter. Pray for me.

Love 

Elder Wray  

P.S. Christmas package. Black Socks, Some ties a Black belt Maybe a pair of pants black. Elder Rivas also wants a thing of Skippy extra chunky Peanut butter he said he would pay me.  Other then that what ever your heart desires. I do NOT need more tooth brushes.

November 5, 2012

Hey Guys!

We are having a hard time. I fasted yesterday to know what our Heavenly Father wants us to do in this area, how we should work. But I still don´t know. We have a couple investigators but they all have to get married and they aren´t keeping commitments. The only things that come to my mind are diligence and charity. I really want to help Elder Myers finish strong. I don´t know if I ever told you but it is really hard to get people married here. It is a long process that can take up to 3 months I have heard. They can not be married through a church well I mean to be legally married the only way is through a judge and starting in December I think all judges go on vacation. After they are legally married then they can go to the temple. Other then my area being difficult the week was good. 

I saw success, Karen was baptized on Saturday and Matias on Sunday. I was able to baptize them both. There are some Pics. Now only the dad is the only non member in there family. They were really good baptisms. Also on Sunday the baby of a couple we are reactivating was blessed. I was able to stand in the circle as the grandfather blessed his grand daughter. The ward has drastically improve in the last 3 months. When I first got here church attentance was around 55-65, now in the last three Sundays we are getting between 90-105. The ward is also working a lot better. Elder Rivas has left with the President of The Relief Society three times this past week to visit recent converts and in actives. Elder Myers and I are working with the Elders Quorum Presidency to make a plan to reactivate 15 Elders. This Bishop has a lot of trust in us right now which is really nice. On Sunday as well two of my converts went up and bore their testimonies. I was a little nervous because they both went up at the same time and they were giggling. Some times they are not the most reverent, they are learning, in the end they bore prefect testimonies. I was very happy!  Also I don´t know if I told you but this week I got news the Luis the brother of one of my Converts Miguel from T-bo was baptized a few weeks ago. That was really cool to hear I tried to teach him but he never want to go to church. Well I guess after writing all of that I have a lot of reasons to be happy. I have truly been blessed. I just wish our area would get going. I guess I just need to be patient and have more faith. 

What else happened this week, Oh yea I was really excited to tell you this when it happened but I almost forgot. I was hit with a rock. I don´t know why but I just think that it was the coolest thing. It hit me right in the back, it was thrown by a couple teenagers but it didn't hurt that bad thanks to the strap of my backpack. People have thrown rocks at us before but they have always come short. Anyway don't worry. I feel bad for the church here in Cerro they have to put up with so much crap. All churches here have huge fences and bars over the windows but in this chapel I have seen they steel the gate to the fence 3 times in a month it isn't a small item it is more like a garage door. Spray painted the sidewalk and one wall with bad things. They have broken the window in the sacrament room 3 times as well. Cut the phone wire, Pooped in front of the doors (I got to pick that up) stolen lots of stuff.. the list goes on and on. And that is just in the time I have been here. I feel so bad for the members here they have to put up with so much. Anyway that's about all I have time for. Oh also I got a letter from sister Clark with almost all my friends letters on it. I was super good and inspiring. I also was able to listen to Matt's home coming talk last night it was super good and gave me some stuff to think about. Thanks for everything. Please pray for me and my comp. He goes home in 13 days! Love you.

Love 
Elder Wray

October 29, 2012

Hey Guys,

This week has been good. I still miss my old area more then I probably should but my new area is alright. Elder Myers is a really good missionary. We worked really hard this week seeing as we really don't know very many people. We have only a few investigators and most of them have to get married so we spent a lot of time visiting 24 months list people, menos activos, and doing contacts. Even though Elder Myers is going home in a few weeks I don't feel like it is affecting his work which is good. We just need to improve what time we go to bed and our comp studies but we are doing well. I have problems going to bed because of the three other Elders in the house none of them care about that rule so it is hard some days to be the example. I don't really have the most dangerous areas.  It is just that this area is more dangerous then the last. But I will tell you about that later. I got your package. Super good, all the candy got squished but its still good. My hockey stick is great! I still haven't bought a stick for it.  It will be better when I do that. Right now I am just using an old broom stick and it kind of wiggles abit. The flag was great too. The only thing I was missing was a letter from mom and dad, and instead of ankle socks I needed more church socks.  More stamps too. 

This week I feel like there is more to say then there is time so we will see how far I get. First of new area. Super Poor. The quality of life is really sad. There is one part of our area that is strait shacks made out of Tin roofing but all rusted with dirt floors. They are almost all filled with really dirty kids. In my area I saw for the first time in my life someone use drugs. We were walking by the famous corner where all the Churros sit. When they yelled at us to come over. So to be polite we walked over. There were three guys and a pregnant girl. One of the guys told us in slurred words that the girl had a tooth ace and wanted to be healed. What could we do. We explained a little about blessings and the priesthood but said we couldn't do anything on the street. They kept insisting saying things like ¨Solo el Rubio tiene que tocar su cara¨ The blondie just needs to touch her face. While this was all happening one of the guys pulls out a little bag with white powder in it and fills the end of an inhaler. While he was doing this I was like you have got to be kidding. Then he through a shirt over his head I saw a few sparks of a lighter then when he took off the shirt he breathed out this really white smoke. The drug is called pasta base which I have heard is like what is left over from crack. Anyway crazy experience. I have never even seen mary j in my life before. 

Anyway to something more spiritual.  Elder Oaks Conference.  It was super good! We got up to be there at 8. It was 400 Elders the two missions. We walked in and you just ran from one friend to another saying hi. It was great! Before it started I shook hands with Elder Oaks and his wife, Elder Hallstrom and his wife and Elder Viñas and his wife. It was sweet! Elder Hallstrom talked about our duty as missionaries/members in terms of meeting. The quality of training or talk is not really the speakers fault, he just has to create an environment for the spirit. Everyone else is then left to come to the meeting having fasted and prayed for what they need. It was really good. Then Elder Oaks talked about a lot of things he is kind of a funny guy he made a lot of jokes. But His center message was on Repentance. He said us as missionaries focus to much on Baptism. But of the 1000 times it says baptism in the Book of Mormon 950 of those times it will say repentance first. He said we need to help our investigators repent make changes not just get baptized. It is something the church is really worried about. In a lot of countries like Southern South America, Japan, the Philippines and Europe are baptizing a lot but they don't stay. It was a good talk.

One last thing. When I went to church I was surprised to see along with all of my converts, Matias, the brother of Eliana and Carolina Almada. We had worked so hard with him but he never came around. Well after church he came over to me and said hey you have a surprise next Sunday. When I asked him what it was he said he was getting baptized, and that he wanted me to baptize him. It was so sweet. I don't know if I wrote this in a letter back with Elder Navarro but I had a really spiritual lesson with him once where I felt this really strong love for him so much that I didn't want to lose him as an investigator. Well in the end he didn't want more but now he is getting baptized which is so cool. I can't wait for Sunday! Anyway that about it I have to go. Thanks for the Package. 

Love 

Elder Wray   

October 22, 2012

Hey Guys,

This week has been better then weeks past. We did divisions with Elder Pace and Elder Vargas. It was a good experience and I feel like I learned a lot and reanimated my desire to share the gospel and be better. We had the baptism of Belen, which was good her family came from all over Montevideo to support her. She was on the Bishops Action List, so almost her whole family is inactive besides an aunt and cousin which bring her to church. She is 9 but smart and has been going to church off and on her whole life, with her family. Her mom is inactive sadly and I don´t think she has plans to come back but she is happy for her daughter. Her Dad is an Ex-missionary that lives in another part of Deo and also is inactive. Yesterday was the Primary program which was good also the most full I have seen the chapel since I have been here. All my converts were there which was cool to see. 

This week has been strange. Like I said we had divisions with Elder Pace. He gave a lot of advice. He dies in 4 weeks. But I don´t know if you remember I told you about an Elder that was found in a closet with a girl during conference. Well we all figured he was going to get changed to another area and when he stayed we were all surprised. Well then on Wednesday he told us he was going, and he was going to meet his new comp during a zone training. This Elder is a good friend we shared a ward so I was kind of sad he was going to another area. We also were in the MTC together. Well when we got to the training Elder Nygard the AP pulled me aside just before it started and told me we didn't need to do Divisions, we were going to the airport. It was so sad. I couldn't believe it. So Elder Nygard and I got in the car with him took him to the mission home and then to the airport. He was really worried how his family would react seeing as his mom is an ex-missionary and his brother as well. It was a year since I arrived at the airport. Anyway it was super sad and I also missed the whole training which kind of stunk. Anyway now that that happened. We have had special changes. I am going to be taking this Elders place in Las torres bis. I will be in the same ward still I just wont be able to visit my converts till I leave but I guess I will see them in church on Sunday. My new comp is Elder Myers from Laton Cali. He goes home in 4 weeks as well and was a zone leader but I have heard he is really trunky. But I will be living in a house of four that is huge. It is called the mansion in the mission. It should be sweet when my stick gets here. I am excited but also kind of sad. I am going to miss my side of the ward. The other side is harder to work because it is really far from church and it is also way more dangerous but President said that's what God wants so here we go. I also will probably be in this ward a long time. At least till January but I think even more. Oh, also this week we see Elder Oaks which should be sweet on Saturday. Anyway that's about it. Thanks for the fotos. 

Love

Elder Wray  

October 15, 2012

Hey Guys,

We are really having a hard time. I feel like we have been obedient and diligent but we are not seeing the results we want. After working all week I was not expecting to see anyone in church. Thankfully an investigator we thought we lost showed up on her own. And another member brought a friend so we scheduled a lesson for this week. Two miracles but I still feel like we need to find more prepared investigators. I feel like Elder Rivas and I improving as a companionship, I just hope thing start improving this week, I am starting to get really tired. Oh before I forget my package is here. I haven´t seen it yet but Elder Navarro went to the offices this week and said I have to sign for it. Maybe for that reason it took so long. They have to send me the thing to sign in the mail then I have to send it back so one week from tomorrow I will finally have it. 

Something that I have been thinking about a lot over the past few weeks is the Scripture D&C 121 "many are called but few are chosen". And I have been thinking of this as I look at some of the great missionaries in the Mission, then at some of the not so great, and then just the regular ones. And I am trying to figure out what is  different and obviously there are huge difference between the great and the not so great. But between the great and the regular, what do I lack to be great missionary. Sometimes I wonder about the decisions I have made before the mission and maybe they had something to do with my preparation then I think about my desires.  There is a great talk by Elder Ballard called Creer Éxito(Believe Success) Maybe?. I am trying to find it.  It is super good. I gave up trying to find it and I lost my train of thought. 

Hey you should put money into my account. I really don´t have shoes for sports or p-day anymore they have kind of been destroyed after a year of soccer. Last time I looked I had like 100 bucks. Also Elder Oaks in 12 days it is going to be sweet. Also I had a cool experience on Sunday. First Elder Navarro called me Saturday night to tell my President was going to visit my ward. That kind of freaked me out a little because I didn´t know anyone who was going to church, and was about to do contacts in front of the church to get someone there. But anyway it was one of the most spiritual testimony meetings I have been in in a long time. I don´t really know why but it was super good. Anyway also The Crawfords were there. The Senior couple who is in charge of the offices and housing. They are from Elder Bradshaws ward in Utah no sabia.  Anyway Elder Crawford doesn´t know anything about Spanish.  After the final hour in priesthood he asked me to translate for him. It was super cool experience. The spirit was super strong as he expressed his feelings about the ward and the priesthood. Then I was able to say it in Spanish, was super cool.  But really that is about it form here. I hope your week goes well. 

Love Elder Wray

October 9, 2012

Hey Guys,

Another hard week but I am ready to work. Conference was very good and gave me a lot of ammo. I also was able to go to the temple today with a couple people from my district. It was a great experience and I received some answers to questions I had. I sometimes think to myself that there should be some big grand answer but as it turns out it was just the simple things. We got up at 4 in the morning to be at the bus stop by five to be at the temple by 7:45 for an 8 o´clock session. The bus ride was long but well worth it. We went today and also today the area Presidency change the temple rules. Missionaries can only go once a year, that to bad but at least I could go. Afterward we took advantage of being in a more wealthy part of town and went to burger king. First time in my life that I can remember it was pretty good, and a lot more food for your money. Double California burger.  First time I have had guacamole since home.

Conference was by far the high point of the week. When President started talking about missionaries I knew he was going to change the age for guys but not for girls. It is crazy but the truth is I already know a lot of Elders that are only 18 from Chile and Mexico and Paraguay. But a lot of guys are worried about the girl population at BYU.  Priesthood session was super good. The truth it actually made me a little trunky. Elder Uchtdorf and Erying. Uchtdorf talked about flying for like 10 minutes. I saw all the sessions in English and priesthood twice. The only talk I missed was Elder HOLLAND. I was super upset but we were helping an investigator with a problem during that talk. We also had and interesting experience as an Elder disappeared during conference only to be found in a closet with a girl.  He said they were just talking but needless to say President was ticked. What a fool. 

Still no package maybe Thursday. Oh and it was changes today. 6 weeks have already passed with Elder Rivas. I am staying in Cerro for a third change with Elder Rivas. I am alright about it.  If we work hard we should have a good change. Yesterday I turned 13 months.  Time is disappearing.  It will be Christmas be for you know it.  Elder Crawford and Tyree from my group are training this change that is kind of cool.  My zone is super old now. Of the 24 elders here 6 of them have time as zone leaders then everyone else besides 5 others have more then a year in the mission. Our zone is doing really good right now. 

Also in other news, I can cook. HaHa!  I have been messing around in the kitchen and it has been pretty good.  Last night I couldn´t sleep well.  I was thinking a lot about flying.  I also miss the mountains a lot it is killing me.  Alright I am just rambling now so I think I should go. Oh one last thing I got a letter from sister Martin. It sounds like they are doing well. I can't believe that Kaleb was in a ward with Quincey That is crazy!

Anyway Choa,

Love,

Elder Wray   

October 1, 2012

Hey Guys,

This week was really bad or hard I guess. We were not doing things the way they should be done. We struggled all week to see our investigators with date and when we finally saw them on Saturday they told us they didn´t feel like they were ready for baptism. So Sunday we just started from scratch and found two people from the lista de 24 meses. And another member brought her cousin to Church and she wants to be baptized. Elder Rivas and I have been talking and we were both really nervous for the area but after Sunday we feel better. We just need to be more obedient and work more effectively. We didn´t have any baptisms this week. 

La verdad this letter will probably be really short my leg is on fire and my mind is exhausted. My mind is fried because this week has been rough, my leg is on fire because I was playing soccer. I was on fire, I had like 6 or 7 really good goals but I was given a pass and I was rushed and turned to shoot and kicked the ground it would have been really embarrassing if it hadn't hurt so bad it is probably the worst pain I have been in in a long time. I hope I didn´t break my toe.  I can move it but there was a little bit of blood but I think it is because I scrapped it. I will call the doc when I get home. 

The next week is change week already so we will see what happens I think we will stay together again but no sè. I forgot to tell you the video of me and Elder Navarro was the day he left so we were taking pic to say goodbye and she just started to film. We also came back to eat dinner there an hour later. Elder Navarro speaks pretty good English no. The new pic I think were of when Elder Navarro had his birthday.  I got a letter from Ben. I wrote him like 3 or 4 months ago. It was super cool. He wrote the end in Portuguese. I didn´t understand much until someone read it out loud then it made more sense. Someone in our district is from Brazil and he translated the rest but he didn´t understand the last sentence. I also got a letter from Preston. He misses me a lot I think.  In his two page letter he said like 8 times "I can't wait for you to get home." He is a junior now. He is going to buy a promise ring for his girlfriend in January. Crazy!!  His flying is going slow but he still loves it. I really hope I get the package this week but I don´t know now Elder Navarro has been waiting 2 Months. 

Yea, I really have nothing else to say. I am excited for conference. Oh yeah, are you reading to Book of Mormon. It is really good. I am highlighting every time it talks of Christ also in Spanish. Anyway love you. 

Love Elder Wray

P.S. Be safe dad, I am not there to tell you your limits. HaHa!! Just kidding but be safe.  

September 24, 2012

Hey Guys,

This week has been crazy. Tuesday night we were hit with a pretty big storm. We had a 15 year old with us and were teaching an investigator the word of wisdom then right in the middle when the mom called. This person we already know has problems with drinking so the lesson was kind of important, Anyway the mom starts yelling at me on the phone get my son home now. I tried to explain give us like 10 more minutes but she flipped out so I told her alright. Right now my comp and I are trying to gain more confidence with member.  We ran ten minutes home to drop of her kid. He lives in front of us. By the time we turn back to the lesson it was pretty bad. When we got back the girl left so we just ended up coming home but on the way I heard a huge snap and looked back and a tree fell over in some ones yard. It was kind of cool. The Next day Wednesday we had a Meeting with Elder Viñas. We left the house at 6:30 to take the bus. But as we approached the road it was flooded with water to the ankle.  We were late and the bus was coming so I told my comp we just have to jump. I spent the whole rest of the meeting with soaked shoes, soaks and pants but it was really good. On the way home they told everyone to only leave the house if needed.  So we just stayed home.  I was going to write letters but the family in front invited us over for dinner, so didn't write any, sorry! The storm was kind of cool it was just like it looks like on the news lots and lots of wind with rain. We are all safe don't worry we did have to use candles though.

During the meeting with Elder Viñas the APs challenged every missionary to finish the Book of Mormon in 3 months just before Christmas. We started yesterday, but I thought I would invite you guys along if you want I am starting in 2  Nephi because that's where I am but you should do it. I forgot the list but I can send it to you if you want. Oh also this week we had 2 baptisms!. They were pretty good. We baptized Pamela and Romina the best friends of Eliana Almada. I baptized Romina and Elder Navarro came over to Baptize Pamela. I think I have to talk to Eliana about what she puts on facebook sometimes it makes me nervous but they are a great family. Then on Sunday I did my First.... Confirmation. It was so hard. I was so nervous. The bishop asked who was going to do them before the meeting and my comp said I don´t know you pick. So he let them pick, Pamela picked me. Just when I was thinking alright I can do it the Stake President walked in and I was like no. My comp said I did fine but when it came the the blessing part I said some things and then my mind just went blank like black. It felt like I didn´t say anything for like 10 minutes which isn´t true, it came out alright in the end. That is my second blessing in my life the first was in the MTC and in English. Spanish is so much harder because  I had to change my way of talking to be more personal and less formal. Anyway that's about it. I forgot my camera so I will send pics next week. I am also still waiting for my package I hope it gets here tomorrow. Also today we played tennis. The first time in like a year. It was a lot of fun! It was in this private club and the owner invited us. It cost 15 bucks but a lot of fun! It was on clay which was new, Elder De hoyos from my group. He played tennis in BYU so he gave me some tips. Also I have to be honest I am not a big fan of the porch. I looks to dark for me. But that's just me. Anyway that's about it for the week. We are hoping to have a baptism this weekend but it isn´t as set in stone as the last two. Any way chao.

Love

Elder Wray     

September 17, 2012

Hey Guys,

First Off Happy Birthday Anna! Quiero decirte feliz cumple año, y que te extraño muchísimo. Espero que este bien y su día sea un día muy feliz. 

This week hasn´t been as great as I had hoped. The truth we were lazy and took way to much time in lessons, and houses of members. A lot of times I feel like we are not being as obedient as we should be, and I hoped to talk about it with Elder Rivas but never did. I will do it today. I'm not talking like we don´t get up on time or study or anything like that. But more like wasting time when we are working, instead of doing a contact when I feel like it is needed I throw the idea out because I know my comp doesn´t like them and neither do I, or we spend to much time in lessons just talking. It doesn´t feel like a lot but when I look back on the whole day it shows. It is some thing that has given me a lot of guilt the past few weeks and I hope to make the changes this week. This change has been so weird from my others in the sense of my comp. In past changes my comps have been so different and sometimes difficult to live with on account of our differences were as I have the opposite problem. My comp and I are almost the same person, I know you probably don´t believe it but it is so true. Only differences are in music and t.v. but even then it is not that far off. And to tell you the truth I am really boring. At least when I live with someone like me. We are both really quite and usually only say what is necessary obviously we are not like robots but it has been really different. I think in last changes I have learned what I don´t want to do and this change it is more like alright I am not doing that anymore. One thing he has taught me that has been really hard my whole mission is to not be Machete. Meaning selfish, meaning what is mine is yours and yours is mine. It is something that has been so hard my hole mission but now I think it has clicked. Latinos are usually very not Machete sometimes just a little to much and some take advantage but I think this package that come hopefully tomorrow will be the biggest test. Oh and before I forget, the girl that put up pictures of me is a very good friend she showed me the pics and Uncle Deans comment yesterday because she didn´t know what it said. That also means I saw her page. She does look a little, I don´t know what the right word is but any she is not like it looks on facebook. Her family is amazing also her older sister is a convert of mine. You should except them they have been trying to send a video of me for a couple weeks, of my last day with Navarro. You also have to remember that I am in a big poor part of the city so the girls from this part are different from others. I hope I look happy because i am. 

Anyway we had a pretty good training the other day from the ZLs. We talked about a lot of stuff manly Personal Revelation. But at the end Elder Kellis shared this with us. He said the day previous he got permission to write all our parents and they wrote back then he gave us what you wrote. When I got my letter the first few sentences felt like dad wrote it but I glanced at the elder next to me and saw that his was the same and instantly knew it was not true. But the letter still had quite a punch. I wanted to send you a copy but I don´t have time right now. In it said, That things in life have gotten hard and that you had stopped saying your prayers and then at the end even going to church. That you wanted help that you knew what to do but didn´t know how. It was really sad including the Hna next to me started to cry. I know that you guys don´t have problems at least I hope and I extremely grateful for your examples. Thank you for teaching and molding me into the person I am today. I know the church is true and living the gospel is the only way to be truly happy with our families forever. I have learned many things on my mission, and am trying to live and improve my life in a manner in which my Heavenly Father would be proud. Thank you for your support. Elizabeth, Anna, and Kate please try to read your scriptures and pray everyday. I know you are still young and might think it is silly and something only grown ups do but as you do it you will learn for yourself and you will be more happy. It is really something I wish I had done more almost everyday of my mission I tell myself if I had done things like this before my mission would be easier or I would have been better prepared. A lot of times I feel like I am behind even though it is not true. But Please try. I love you. Tell Grandma and Grandpa Hi! I love them to! 

Love 

Elder Wray

Ps thanks for the pics they were sweat. Also we had stake conference yesterday with Elder Gonzalez (70) Hna Reeves, Elder Anderson and the Profeta. The only one that used a translator was the Profeta. Really good, athough the hna really had problems reading her talk. pretty cool. 

September 10, 2012

Hey Guys,

Things are going really good. I am really happy for my area and our investigators. They are doing really good, we were going to have baptisms this week but due to stake conference and a ward activity they had to be moved to the 22nd. They were a little disappointed but are still excited. We hoped to see more in church this week but due to sickness two couldn´t go. Elder Rivas is doing well and has started doing exercises with me because President challenged him to do it in interview, He is going to be the first comp I have had since Elder Bradshaw to work out with me. All the others haven´t done anything besides Elder Navarro who worked out when I showered. Today we did superstar, were you do like 15 push ups then 15 sit ups then 14 then 13 all the way to 0 as fast as you can. I told him to start at 10 but he said no. Haha he died at 12 which is only like 44 of each. It is a lot more fun when you have someone to push you even if the only thing that pushes me is the fact that he is in the room watching me.

My hump day was really uneventful I made french toast that was only mas o menos and my comp was going to make an apple pie but there wasn´t time. I swear I am going to get fat in Montevideo. In most areas it is a blessing to have members give you food here it is a punishment. One day I ate breakfast then a huge lunch. Next house scones, then homemade bread and milk,  then a member gave us a kind of stew. By the time I got home I was stuffed then our neighbor knocks on our window and tells us she made us a pizza. There is just not enough room in my stomach. Today we played futbol for a couple hours in the morning then half the zone went to a expo that was kind of expensive and it was to buy souvenirs which I don´t really want to lug around the rest of my mission.  The 8 of us in the zone went to... McDonalds. Haha! 4 of us are from the same group so it was more of a celebration. I sent a foto. Left to Right Elder Geshwandtner from Brazil great guy then Elder Salgado came with us on the plane but only stayed in the CCM for 3 weeks. Elder Garcia El Salvador, then Elder De Hoys my group, Elder Rivas my comp, Elder  Vera my group also Ecuador, and then Elder Valencia from Chile. It was really good but really expensive, haha! Well it taste the same as the states but here only rich people eat there which is the opposite. I think that will only be a one time thing. I ate a big mac with large fries and drink and a twix Mcflurry. 1800 calories and $13.25 dollars. Anyway a lot of fun! The other pic is from last change but it was better then mine so I stoled it from Elder Gesh.

Things are going really good and I am really happy, sometimes I feel like my comp doesn´t want to work but he is getting better. Something sad that I have learned and to tell you the truth I really wanted to cry but the things of the world happen a lot sooner here then in the states. I was talking to one of our recent converts an 11 year old girl.  And she asked if my comp or I had ever tasted beer. When we said no she laughed and then said I don´t believe you. She said she has drunk beer tons of times in parties. It is so sad she is so young and innocent and to hear her say she liked drinking with her friends made me want to cry and she wasn´t just saying that to look older I truly believe her. We also have another investigator that has been through a lot more but they are things I dont´really want to tell you about. Anyway the world can be a terrible place. But it is one of the many blessings of having the gospel. Anyway I have to go. Take care!

Love 

Elder Wray

September 3, 2012

Hey Guys,

This week was hard! I realized that I didn´t know my area very well so when things fell I didn´t know where to go. But we are using the Ward Directory and we are waiting for a Lista de los 24 meses. I hope we can find more people this week. We had a lot of people in church which was a nice end to the week. We will be having a few Baptisms in the coming weeks which will be good as well. Elder Rivas is a good guy, I am sure we will get along. I think he is cleaner then I am or at least casi which is a first. Some times I feel like he doesn´t like to work but it isn´t a huge problem. This week has been slow and I hope this week we can step things up. He only has 2 months more then me so we are just kind of share all of the stuff there isn´t really much of a senor comp which is kind of nice it should help me out a lot. We have interviews on Friday because Elder VIñas from the first quorum of the seventy will be here the 18 I think. Then Conference the 6th I can't believe it has already been six months man how time flies. President sent me this which made me feel good about myself if it isn´t to proud to say,  You are a great missionary. I hope Elder Rivas is ready to go to work. That is a good ward and there are lots of opportunities to teach. Elder Navarro is a good missionary and I am confident he will be a great Zone Leader. Thanks for all you are doing as a missionary. Love pH  

It is a good thing you didn´t send gravy I promised never to eat it again in my mission. I haven´t gained any weight still 65 kilos 145 pounds which is alright for me. My comp is 50 kilos 110 pounds. I feel real confident in the street with him next to me, haha not! Only because he speaks Spanish better, but he was really scared his first few days here. When he got here all kinds of things started to happen, a dude on the street was playing with a knife then started yelling stuff at us like z"whats wrong with you, what do you want"? We just walked a little faster that was my comps first day here. Then yesterday he was robbed... Kind of. It was 9 at night and we were waiting for the Bishop out side his house when a teenager came up to us and was like "hey I have no food and need money so... I want to sell you this backpack". I was like, No sorry because he was eating bread obviously a lie and I bet he stole the backpack. As the bishops wife came out I turned to her and when I turned back my comp was giving the guy money. When he left I was like what just happened. He said that the guy wasn´t going to leave us a lone till we gave him something so he gave him all the money in his wallet only like 50 pesos but I was like really we were just about to go inside.  Whatever! I was robbed by the Taxi driver during changes, I had know idea what to do all the members told me I shouldn´t have paid but I am a gringo and an Elder I wasn´t going to fight him. He took me in the wrong direction for a while then got ¨Lost¨. But it doesn't matter I am excited and I don´t know why. It should be a good week.

Pics things I have made in the past few weeks as well as the baptisms of luis. Sorry this letter has been kind of short I am sitting next to Elder Navarro in the cyber cafe catching up on all that has happened this last week. He truly is one of my best friends in the mission. I was really sad when he left. But at least he didn´t go far. My area has a lot of potential. I hope we can us some of it over the next few weeks if we work how God wants. Anyway I have to go.

Love Elder Wray

P.S. Olvide. Hump Day Saturday. NO PUEDO CREER. Nunca pensé que iba a llegar a esta punto. The time is flying. Love You guys! 

August 28, 2012

Hey Guys,

This week was really good. We had a baptism of Luis. He is 25 but has trouble learning. He is a really great guy and we have had to changing our teaching so much for him. The ward is right behind him.  The bishopric has helped so much and are looking for a place where he can learn to read and write. Both his parents are in prison and one of his brothers. But that doesn't stop him from going. All he does is changa which is like odd jobs. So he doesn't make very much money but the members of the ward are helping him with that too. I had the opportunity to baptize him which was a little crazy, he was kinda of excited and acted like a child in the font but it went well.  

This change with Elder Navarro I think has been the best one of my mission, it just disappeared. He is such an amazing person and am happy to be in his zone. This week is changes and he is leaving but not going far just 2 wards over but as a Zone Leader which is crazy. Sunday was a pretty crazy day for him. He was "dear Johned" through a member through a photo on facebook. He was with her six years before the mission. Needless to say he was a little upset. We ran home because I was sick with stomach problems, something I will tell you about later and while I was in the bathroom he burned her pics and letters. Then later that day President called and called him to ZL. We also were exhausted because we woke up at 5:45 to fill the font for the baptism. The Member that gave him the "dear John" said her boy friend is serving in Belen Brazil and I think he might be close to Elder Clark, his name is Elder Mousques. If you get the chance forward this to him maybe he knows him it would be kind of cool.

Man this week has just been packed I have seen to cars stolen, one follow in high speed pursuit by police. We were lucky we didn't die. I saw my first illegal rooster Fight. Also Something strange, a hermano got up to give a talk and said before I speak I want to say a pray to invite the spirit. Then said a pray. The prayer was really weird I had no clue what to do I have never seen something like that before. We also found a huge drug lord. His name is Guillermo O'niels or something like that he was in charge of almost every illegal weapon and drug to pass through Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. He also was in involved in some to the biggest bank heist in Uruguay. But he has spent a lot of time in prison and now is just trying to be someone normal. We had a really good lesson with him he said he is not ready to join a church but he has accepted to listen. Cerro is crazy! 

This week I also decided to make fries and gravy. Gravy doesn't exist here so I played it by ear. It was really good! I kind of screwed up the gravy, the first time I got to the meat juice and cubes when I couldn't remember if it was flour water first or potato water well I think I choice wrong because I picked flour water and it just fried the flour but I saved it and it was all good. The next day a member gave us chicken and mashed potato's so I tried to do it again, wasn't as good. I got really sick I think from the flour. I don't think I'll try gravy again for a while!

Something has been on my mind the last few weeks. It hasn't really been bothering me but the thoughts come in to my mind at night. But, "Why was I called to Uruguay, and why at this time"? I know I was called of God by a profeta but why here. Sometimes when I struggle with Spanish or the culture or the people I think why am I here and not back at home in the states or in Canada. Where I can relate to the people better and we have things in common. Sometimes I think when the kids stop us to play futbol in the street that I could be me playing hockey with some members or kids in Canada and that I could have better success or a better time. I don't know I am not really worried about it, it has just been a thought. I know I am where I'm to be, I am just looking for the why. 

I guess you want to know my change. Well I am going to be with Elder Rivas, I have never heard of him. So I can't say much, he is from El Salvador and has 3 months more then me so it should be fun. I am pretty sure I am junior comp again but they never said anything. Elder Navarro had a special interview with President yesterday and when they left the room President came out with a huge smile on his face and gave me the longest huge I have ever had in my life by a man. Why we were "hugging if that doesn't sound to gay" he told me I was an awesome missionary and that he's so thankful to have me in his mission. Along with a few other things. Then he entered with another elder and 30 seconds later came back out to me and told me I want you to know that you are ready to be senior comp but there aren't any spots open. He then wrote in his letter this week that a lot of big groups came to the mission about a 1 year ago and no one has died (gone home). So the mission is really old right now. Anyway that's a little of what has happened this week. I can't wait for the package! Thanks for everything.

Elder Wray

Also Elder Oaks gets here 27 October, Can't wait! Also 1 year is coming up super soon crazy!     

August 20, 2012

Hey Guys

This week has been good.  It looks like we are not moving for now. Our land lady finally cooled down. President shot down my 6 elder house idea he said if truchos get in a 6 elder house it would be a huge problem. So for now we will be in our little house. I can't believe Ann died, she was a really nice person, I thought about asking her on a date once.  I really hope you put that roller hockey blade in my package, I need it!

This week was Zone Conference, which was really a lot of fun!  I saw my CCM comp Elder Crawford, he had to give a talk. It wasn´t that great because it was kind of a surprise but it was a lot of fun, during lunch we had a ping pong torney.  It was great, in front of everyone.  I did pretty well. Today we had a District activity. We cooked 3 chickens and like 2 kilos of rice, 10 churisos and like 4 kilos of potatoes and yams it was amazing. Our district is probably the best in the mission. Anyway during we played ping pong and cards. I am the only Gringo in my district besides and another Elder who moved to Florida from Honduras when he was like 3 but it is a lot of fun.  

On Saturday I was in the shower when all the lights went out and the music turned off. Then I hear Elder Navarro yell no. When I got out of the shower he told me he tried to hang his towel up to dry on a wire. Which happened to be the wire from the outside to the master circuit breaker. Anyway he didn´t know what to do so I had to go outside, remember it has poored here since last Monday, turn off the power and then take off the panel to see which wire came undone. Which was a quick fix and for some reason now the lights work in the kitchen, they have been broken since before I got here. Anyway it was kind of fun, like working on the house again. I know you guys probably hate me for saying that but I really miss that stuff.  

We might have two baptisms this weekend we were planing on 5 but we kind of changed plans yesterday with a few of them who aren´t ready. This is the last week of the change already. I can´t believe I have already been here 5 weeks fa. Not much else has happened in terms of the work. After a really cool lesson with a brother of our conversos I felt this really strong love for him. It was like all of a sudden I wanted to be obedient not for myself but because I knew if I was more obedient the more I could teach him with the spirit and he will be more likely to get baptized, anyway I wanted to say that better but I have to go like right now.  Thanks for everything! Send the hockey stick. Love you.

Love

Elder Wray

August 13, 2012

Hey Guys,

This week has been good. We couldn´t get as many people to church as we wanted but we worked hard and we both feel exhausted. As always I feel like our biggest struggle is finding people ready to be baptized. We have talked about how to find ready people but when it comes time to do it we never seem to get it done. I feel like that is one of the keys to missionary work if you can continually find ready people to teach you will help more people make covenants. We have the promise that there is always someone ready to listen and if we follow the spirit we will find but the trick is in doing it. Anyway our investigators are many but most of them don´t want to progress. Gabriel our smoker, drinker, life taker, we only talked to once this week because we thought he wasn´t progressing so we thought we would leave him for a bit then come back so he can see the changes in his life as he lives what we teach. But he came to church on his own Sunday so we stopped by last night and he committed to live everything we taught so we will try again. He can´t get baptized till he repents but hopefully we can help him out. Stella our golden girl didn´t come to church and didn´t show up for a lesson but she excepted to live the word of wisdom even though she drinks coffee and tea, hopefully we see her tonight as well. I don´t know if I told you about Luis yet. He is a reference from an investigator a while back. He lives by himself in his mas o menos shack. He is really cool! He has a few mental problems. They aren´t serious only that it takes him time to learn things but not much more then that. We taught him all of lesson one then when we asked him questions at the end found out that he didn´t get anything. So Elder Navarro taught Prophets and Joesph Smith with drawings. It is a lot of fun! He cant´read but in one week I can already see he is learning faster then before and can read some words now. But he has a problem with porn. His friends told us about it. So we told him to go home and get rid of all his movies. The next day he came in, we ask him about the BOM.  He said I broke it. I was like what, how? Then he said "I broke the other things so I started thinking he watched a movie or something. But then he confirmed that he snapped his DVDs in half. But when we went to his house I guess he didn´t understand that magazines and posters and fotos are the same so that day with his help and a bit of fire we burned what was left. And from that experience I learned that porn truly burns seeing as Elder Navarro got burned and we both reeked of smoke. But anyway he is doing great! 

What else this week. Oh the the people here don´t seem to understand the difference between Ice hockey and field hockey. The hermana told us she knew the difference but it was a lie. The closest Ice hockey stick to me is in Argentina but I have an idea. You should send me a roller hockey plastic blade, I can easily find a stick. This isn´t something trucho seeing as everyone else can play football and basketball, why can't I stick handle at night in my house. Also a roll of hockey tape would be good. But I am not joking about this I really need one! So send one. The Mail problem. I can send mail but can´t receive the only way to get a package to me is through FEDEX. Any other way and I wont get it. But I did get a letter from Katherine the other day, she is doing good, she went to Whales for a while and now is in California for the summer which I guess will end soon. It is already getting warm here. But Sunday we were hit by the tropical storm Santa Rosa I think it was. We were asleep for most of it but we were drenched going to church and almost no one went and the Bishop told me I had a talk/testimony 5 minutes before with another Elder. I think it went alright. I found my one year goals from the CCM the other day, I have already completed some but others no, so I made some new goals for the next year.  Crazy Right! But I don´t think there is much else to say. Life is good, just tired. Zone Conference Wednesday. Anyway, Chao.

Love 

Elder Wray

 

August 6, 2012

Hey Guys,

Sadly this week has not been like last week. But first of I can't believe Brooke got married and to who? Also help me with my bank card please. Anyway Today we found out that Elder Oaks will be here in October it is going to be sweet! And Someone from the area Presidency will be here in September I can´t wait. Also on Wednesday I will have 11 months and I think Ben will have a year, crazy how fast time flies.

As for our investigators we have really only one and she is gold but she doesn´t want to accept fecha (date) until she knows everything. She has already told us on many occasions that she have received answers to her prayers about the BOM and Joseph Smith but she thinks she need to wait be baptized. We had a long lesson about it but the situation remains the same. She told us she will get baptized she doesn´t know when. She was one miracle from the other Sunday. The other man who wanted to change his life is really complicated. First he is living in the street again because he can't stand his brothers for this his life got ten times harder and we can't see him all the time and 1000 problems mas. Also he recently told us something more.  We had to know more to see if we could teach him, As he told us the experience his whole character changed. Elder Navarro and I could tell he was reliving the experience in his head and his adrenaline was pumping it was really kind of disturbing. He was young when he did it but he told us he hasn´t completely repented. We don´t know what to do with him. I wasn´t really faced by the story but I am starting to lose my love and faith for him. He isn´t keeping his commitments and he hasn´t improved in a while. I don´t know what to do it is really sad. Anyway it stresses me out when I think of all I need to do here. In part of my personal study I am reading the BOM in Spanish. I never realized how much I love that book. I also have started using my Study Journal better and it has made a world of difference.

It looks like I have the greatest luck in the world our land lord said we need to move, so look who gets to take care of that mess again. The senior couple laughed when I told  them.  I have gotten to know them quite well. I think they will just move us in with 4 other Elders, there house has room for 8. It should be a blast. But I will be the only Gringo with 5 Latinos. Also I am starting to have girl problems here. I get a lot of comments like "oh your eyes are pretty or i like your hair". Today on the way to the bus which was packed like sardines a girl ran up to me then into me, I was like woe what is going on. When I didn´t do anything she said oh choa and then ran away and Elder Navarro yelled sorry he can't kiss you we are Elders. Supper weird! Then Friday night waiting for the bus to go home, two girls started giggling when we got there, one yell hey blondie do you want to confess which is like you want to get a room I guess. When we didn´t say anything she came up and said my friend wants your number, thankfully I didn´t have the cell phone that day and could say with confidence I don´t have a phone. When she went back to her friend she started pole dancing with the bus sign. We kind of laugh about it now because of how stupid they were and probably drunk but she was so ugly. Anyway those are some of the crazier times.  Sorry this letter couldn´t be as good as the last. But we hope to have a good week this week. Enjoy your vacation, school starts soon. 
Love  
Elder Wray

July 30, 2012

Hey Guys,

It has been a week full of work. And end on a high note with the Baptism. I thought it went well even though there were problems to take care of that always seems to happen. Probably the most spiritual baptism I have been in which was good because President came (the luck of living in Deo - (Montevideo). The missionaries sang 2 special numbers. Afterwards the father of the girl told us he has been thinking of learning more, we might have a NDH with him tonight. We were planing on two more people being baptized but one was sick and the dad said he couldn´t go till he is better and the other, the mom said yes but the dad said no so we have to work with them. The miracle we found last Sunday who has problems with smoking and drinking is going well, I guess he is going to have a hard time because of the environment he is in but he has a lot of faith and is really make an effort. He is also already sharing the gospel with his friends. He knows everyone and so when we walk to church he stops his friend and says stuff like "hey I am with the Mormons you should come to church with us it has changed my life". He is great! But he is also struggling. This past Sunday he came to church and he was good till the second speaker when he had to leave. I think he was hung over to tell you the truth or maybe because he stopped drinking and change to water he got sick because he didn´t reek of alcohol like he did before. Anyway we gave him a blessing and then helped him home. 

Something interesting that happened to me the other day. To tell you the truth for the last 6 or 7 months I have kind of been counting down the months to go home. To tell you the truth I wasn´t really happy. But the other night I was thinking to myself in bed "wow I only have 13 months left that is not very much, I don't want to go home". I don't know these past two week I have been really happy. I think because my comp and I are really working and because we are working good we are always busy and seeing blessing and success. I don't know what it is? Obviously I can't always have comps like Navarro but if I could the mission would be sweet. I also am loving my area! It is truly dangerous and scary at times. Our chapel is in the neighborhood Cerro Norte which is the most dangerous part of Montevideo so sometimes it can be scary the other elders when leaving the chapel from the baptism last night were stoned with rocks by teenagers, lucky they weren't hit but that can happen here. People have yelled stuff at me like well bad words then "I am going to Kill you" but they are always playing soccer so it isn't a problem only at night. But a lot of times I feel like I am in Sodom from the bible. At least that is what I picture it like. There are a lot of condoms in the street, people on drugs and drunk and everyone is poor. You hear stories about terrible things. I have only heard a few gun shots but they were really far away. Thankfully we live in the safest house in the zone I think. But the amazing thing is it is in places like this that the gospel really is like a light in the dark and I know there are people here that want to change. I don't know if you can tell but I am really happy to be here. Anyway we are also out of money. I sent a pic of my lunch today it is all that was in the house noodles, mayonnaise and a can of ground sardines. It was supper gross. I would have been good if it was tuna but Ground sardines are terrible and I like sardines. Can't wait for money to come in Wednesday.  I am sending a story that was given in my baptism by Elder Marmol who was here before me. I thought it was really good. It probably is a Mormon myth but I could feel the spirit as he read it. So I thought I would share.

The following event took place in a ward in Salt Lake City in 1974. It occurred during Sacrament Meeting and was told to me by a Regional Representative of the twelve, who was in the meeting. A young man, just before leaving on his mission, stood in Sacrament Meeting and bore, in essence, the following testimony. "My Brothers and Sisters, as you know, during the past few weeks I have been awaiting my mission call. During the time I was waiting I had a dream I was in the pre-existence and was awaiting my call to come to earth. I was filled the same excitement and anticipation that I had before I received my mission call. In my dream, I was talking to a friend. He was a very dear friend, and I felt a special closeness to him, even though I've never met him in this life. As we talked, a messenger came and gave me a letter. I knew it was my call to go to earth. In great excitement my friend and I opened the letter I gave it to him and asked him to read it aloud. The letter said: You have been called to earth in a special time and to a special land. You will be born into the true church, and you will have the priesthood of God in you home. You will be raised with many advantages and many blessings. You will be born in a land of plenty-a land of freedom. You will go to earth in the United States of America. "My friend and I rejoiced as we read my call. And while we rejoiced, the messenger returned. This time he had a letter for my friend. We knew it was his call to earth. My friend gave me the letter to read aloud. The letter said: You have been called to go to earth in circumstances of poverty and strife. You will not be raised in the true church. Many hardships will attend your life. Your land will be fraught with political and social difficulties which will hinder the word of the Lord. You will be born in Costa Rica. We wept, my friend and I as we read his call. And my friend looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "when we are down on earth, you in your choice land and me in Costa Rica, my friend, come and find me." Then this young missionary, with tears in his own eyes, said, "Brothers and Sisters, I have received my mission call. I am going to Costa Rica. There is a special sequel to this story. About a year after this Sacrament Meeting, the Bishop to this Ward received a letter from the Missionary in Costa Rica. The letter had one sheet of paper in it, and on the sheet was written in inch-high letter four word: I FOUND MY FRIEND.

I hope I can find my friends. I know I have been called to Uruguay by God and that President receives the Revelation that put me in the area I need to be. Now I just need to work. Thanks for your support, Love you!

Elder Wray